‘To Write Love on Her Arms’ Based on Real-Life Story; Justin Bieber’s Mom Pattie Mallette Releases Its Trailer

To Write Love on Her Arms
'To Write Love on Her Arms' movie stars Kat Dennings. Photo: Youtube

Pattie Mallette, most famously known as the mother of Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber, has released a trailer for her upcoming feature film 'To Write Love on Her Arms.'

The film, according to its YouTube trailer description, focuses on the true story that started a global movement. TV actress and Emmy Award winner Kat Dennings of "2 Broke Girls" stars as Renee, a young woman in Florida who deals with the downward spiral of addiction, depression and abuse.

"In a creative blend of artistic fantasy and music conflicted with hard reality, Renee discovers the value of genuine friendships and embarks on a daunting yet courageous journey towards recovery," the description stated.

According to the YouTube description, the film also stars Chad Michael Murray, Rupert Friend and Corbin Bleu. Mallette is one of the executive producers of the film.

The film's title shares the name with the actual nonprofit organization. According to the charity's official website, the mission statement of the TWLOHA organization is "dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide."

"TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery," Jamie Tworkowski, the founder of the nonprofit, wrote.

The film's story is based on true events experienced by 19-year-old Renee as described by Tworkowski on the official TWLOHA website. According to Tworkowski, the real-life Renee used cocaine, pot, pills and alcohol on a regular basis.

"She has known such great pain; haunted dreams as a child, the near-constant presence of evil ever since," Tworkowski wrote in his description of Renee. "She has felt the touch of awful naked men, battled depression and addiction, and attempted suicide. Her arms remember razor blades, fifty scars that speak of self-inflicted wounds."

Tworkowski added that the treatment center would not accept Renee since was considered "too great a risk," which meant that he and a few other friends had to step up and "become her hospital."

"It is unspoken and there are only a few of us, but we will be her church, the body of Christ coming alive to meet her needs, to write love on her arms," Tworkowski wrote.

Tworkowski went on to describe the "five-day rehab" that Renee experienced, which included activities such as seeing local indie bands in concert and scoring seats at a professional basketball game. After a Sunday night visit to church full of encouragement from other people before entering proper rehab, Renee handed him a gift.

"She hands me her last razor blade, tells me it is the one she used to cut her arm and her last lines of cocaine five nights before," Tworkowski wrote. "She's had it with her ever since, shares that tonight will be the hardest night and she shouldn't have it. I hold it carefully, thank her and know instantly that this moment, this gift, will stay with me."

Tworkowski wondered if the "great feeling" he experienced with Renee "is what Christ knows when we surrender our broken hearts, when we trade death for life." Before dropping her off at the treatment center, Renee had a few parting words.

"The stars are always there but we miss them in the dirt and clouds," she said. "We miss them in the storms. Tell them to remember hope. We have hope."

The experiences of being by Renee's side made Tworkowski reflect on his Christian faith.

"We often ask God to show up," Tworkowski wrote. "We pray prayers of rescue. Perhaps God would ask us to be that rescue, to be His body, to move for things that matter."

Tworkowski admitted that although he might be a simple man, he believed that "God works in love, speaks in love, is revealed in our love."

"We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless," Tworkowski concluded. "We don't get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won't solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way."

As for Renee, she is alive and "in the patience and safety of rehab, covered in marks of madness but choosing to believe that God makes things new, that He meant hope and healing in the stars."

The film "To Write Love on Her Arms" will be released in theaters in March 2015.

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